The report says the match at Marvel Stadium overlapped with the end of Australia’s World Cup opener in Vancouver. Lyon reportedly argued that the clash was deliberate rather than careless, with the tournament date known well in advance.
“Somos a AFL, é um jogo em casa do Saints, nosso pessoal vai vir”, he said, defending the league’s decision to preserve St Kilda’s home fixture.
It is a familiar argument across Australian sport: major events compete for attention, but domestic competitions cannot continually move whenever another code takes centre stage.
The reported attendance of 17,748 became part of the discussion, with some viewing it as evidence that the Socceroos had drawn supporters away. Lyon pushed back, citing a previous meeting with GWS in Sydney that reportedly attracted a much smaller crowd without a national-team game competing for viewers.
His broader point was that winning remains the most reliable marketing tool. If St Kilda can maintain its form, Lyon believes supporters will return.
“Então isso depende de nós”, he said, according to the report.
That stance places the pressure firmly on the Saints. A big crowd is not only a scheduling outcome; it is also a reflection of excitement around the team.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley reportedly approached the Socceroos debate with less resistance, even revealing that he had selected Spain in the Giants’ internal World Cup tipping competition.
After the defeat, he opened his media conference with a joke: “I'm here to talk about the Socceroos. Let's go.”
The next rounds will show whether the scheduling controversy fades quickly-or whether future clashes force the AFL to reconsider how it places games against major national football moments.